BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama highschool band director stated Wednesday that he was simply “doing my job” when cops arrested him and shocked him with a stun gun after he refused to instantly cease the band because it performed within the bleachers following a soccer sport.
Johnny Mims, the band director at Minor Excessive Faculty, instructed The Related Press he was confused when officers pulled him from the director’s podium to arrest him following final Thursday’s sport between Minor and Jackson-Olin excessive faculties.
“I used to be in shock. Simply completely confused as a result of I used to be just about doing my job, and I hadn’t finished something improper. I undoubtedly didn’t need to be Tased,” Mims stated by telephone. Mims stated police shocked him with the stun gun 3 times.
Police physique digicam footage launched Monday exhibits Mims being arrested and repeatedly shocked in a chaotic scene that included college students screaming. Police charged him with disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest.
In the body camera footage, officers are seen approaching Mims because the band performs within the stands. They ask him a number of instances to cease the efficiency, saying it’s time for everybody to go away the stadium because the sport was over, and seem incredulous that Mims continues directing the band for an additional two minutes or so.
Because the music continues, an officer tells Mims he’ll go to jail and one other says she’s going to contact the varsity. Mims flashes two thumbs up and says, “That’s cool.”
“Put him in handcuffs,” an officer is later heard saying. The stadium lights are reduce off shortly earlier than the band finishes.
Mims stated after the music ended that he was pulled from the conductor’s stand. Officers are seen within the video apparently attempting to arrest him, in a scrum of our bodies. College students within the 145-member band may be heard screaming because the arrest performs out.
Mims stated he was confused by what was occurring. He stated Wednesday that the 2 bands have been doing what is usually referred to as a fifth quarter present wherein bands carry out as attendees depart the stadium. He stated he wasn’t attempting to be defiant, however relatively was making an attempt to wrap up the music.
“We have been on the final half of our music,” he stated.
Police stated in a press release Friday that officers determined to take Mims into custody after the confrontation. They stated Mims refused to place his palms behind his again and that the arresting officer stated he was pushed by the band director, which led to using the stun gun. Mims was arrested on fees of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and harassment.
Mims stated he didn’t push or hit any of the officers.
“You will note that my shopper by no means struck or by no means tried to strike an officer,” state Rep. Juandalynn Givan, who’s Mims’ lawyer, stated throughout a Wednesday information convention.
Mims and the officers who approached him are Black. Each excessive faculties have majority Black pupil our bodies. “This wouldn’t have occurred in Mountain Brook. This wouldn’t have occurred in Hoover…And everybody on this room is aware of that,” Givan stated, referring to prosperous majority-white cities within the Birmingham space.
Mims stated he’s presently on administrative depart from the varsity system. The Alabama Training Affiliation, which represents academics and different public college workers, stated it was asking the varsity system to let Mims return to work.